Chinese Diplomats Push Back on Claim Beijing is Cutting Back on Financial Support For Africa

Chinese ambassador to Kenya Zhou Pingjian speaking at a press conference in Nairobi. Image via KBC.

China’s ambassador to Kenya, Zhou Pingjian, challenged assertions that Beijing is reducing its financial support for Africa. “I can assure you, the financial support from China to Africa will only increase. It will never reduce,” he told journalists at a press conference in Nairobi on Friday.

Zhou, along with his boss in Beijing, Wu Peng, challenged the media narrative that emerged in the U.S., Europe, and Africa that the $40 billion worth of projects announced this year indicates China may be pulling back, especially seen in contrast with the $60 billion that was committed in 2015 and 2018.

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by Eric Olander

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